Navy Secretary Ray Mabus announced on Wednesday that he would award the Purple Heart to the troops injured and killed in this summer’s shooting in Chattanooga, Tenn.
“Following an extensive investigation, the FBI and NCIS have determined that this attack was inspired by a foreign terrorist group, the final criteria required for the awarding of the Purple Heart to this sailor and these Marines,” the statement from Mabus said. “This determination allows the Department of the Navy to move forward immediately with the award of the Purple Heart.”
Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez went on a shooting spree at two locations in Chattanooga on July 16: first at a military recruiting center located in a strip mall, then leading police on a chase to a Navy reserve center.
While officials initially called the attack an act of “domestic terrorism,” it took months for the Navy to make the final determination necessary to present the awards to the injured Marine as well as to the families of those who were killed.
Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, Staff Sgt. David Wyatt, Sgt. Carson A. Holmquist, Lance Cpl. Squire D. “Skip” Wells, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith were killed in the attack. Sgt. DeMonte Cheeley was injured.
“Although the Purple Heart can never possibly replace this brave sailor and these brave Marines, it is my hope that as their families and the entire Department of the Navy team continue to mourn their loss, these awards provide some small measure of solace,” Mabus’ statement said. “Their heroism and service to our nation will be remembered always.”
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., had previously said that he would work to make sure those involved in the Chattanooga shootings received the Purple Heart, according to reports.
The Chattanooga attack was just one this year that raised the question of presenting combat awards to troops who exhibited heroism or suffered injuries outside of traditional warzones.
Earlier this year, Air Force Staff Sgt. Spencer Stone received a Purple Heart for injuries he sustained as one of three Americans who helped foil a terrorist plot on a Paris train.
In last year’s defense authorization bill, lawmakers authorized those killed during the 2009 shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, and the 2009 shooting at a Little Rock, Ark., recruiting center to receive the Purple Heart.
For Purple Heart recipients in those attacks, former Army Secretary John McHugh in April also ordered that they receive additional benefits normally afforded to recipients of the Purple Heart, including hostile-fire pay and special compensation for those disabled by their injuries.
